Kim Jong Un has been the supreme leader of North Korea since the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011, the third ruler of the Kim family since his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, founded the state. He holds the positions of general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, a title he assumed in 2012 that was renamed from first secretary in January 2021, and president of the State Affairs Commission since 29 June 2016, along with North Korea's highest military offices. Born to Kim Jong Il and Ko Yong-hui in a year North Korea gives as 1982 while South Korean intelligence estimates 1983 and the United States government lists 1984, he studied in Switzerland before attending Kim Il Sung University; following his father's death, state media proclaimed him the great successor. He has maintained the Kim family's personality cult, overseen North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs, and engaged in periods of diplomacy with China, South Korea and the United States.
Facts
Disputed
Birth YearSouth Korean intelligence officials believe the actual date was 1983, and the US government lists his birth year as 1984 based on the passport he used while studying in Switzerland; this record uses the North Korean state media year of 1982 as the officially proclaimed value. Birth DateSouth Korean intelligence officials believe the actual date was 1983, and the US government lists his birth year as 1984 based on the passport he used while studying in Switzerland; this record uses the North Korean state media date of 8 January 1982 as the officially proclaimed value. Classification
Political RoleFirst Chairman of the National Defense Commission 1 Political RoleGeneral Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea 1 Political RoleMember of the Supreme People's Assembly 1 Political RolePresident of the State Affairs Commission 1 Sources
1. Kim Jong Un - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
2. Kim Jong Un (Wikipedia)
Personal life, birth date section
North Korean authorities and state-run media state that Kim Jong Un was born on 8 January 1982.
Personal life, birth date dispute section
The US government lists his birth year as 1984, based on the passport he used while studying in Switzerland.
Entity description, gender reference sentence
Kim Jong Un has been the supreme leader of North Korea since the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011, the third ruler of the Kim family since his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, founded the state.
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